|
Final Weeks of Fall Semester
ENGAGE YOUR STRENGTHS | COMMUNITY | FUTURE AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
|
Greetings!
The pace of fall semester has increased as students finalize group presentations and put the finishing touches on their papers. I know many of you are simultaneously writing final exams for this semester while planning ahead for spring semester. Attendance at the D2L workshops have been impressive, and the Distance Learning Committee is planning more for spring. In the midst of this hectic time, please mark your calendars for the college's annual end-of-semester luncheon, Dec. 10 at 11:30. We will be meeting in UC 127 to socialize and celebrate. I look forward to seeing you.
|
|
|
SI breaks records in courses, leaders
 When University Studies launched Supplemental Instruction in Spring 2006, there were two faculty members and two SI leaders. Although only 54 students took advantage of one or more SI sessions that semester, the results were quite encouraging. Those SI participants had a DFW rate of 8%, while their peers in the same courses who had not participated in SI had a rate of 43%. The initial results led to the hire of Fiona Brantley as SI Director, who was charged with growing the program.
Fast forward to this semester, and there are record numbers of faculty, SI leaders and students participating in Supplemental Instruction. According to Brantley, there are 32 faculty members in 18 courses for a total of 63 sections who are offering SI for their students. Brantley trained 35 SI leaders, another record, and students taking entry-level courses in math, biology, physics, chemistry and political science have the ability to participate.
Brantley has assessment data showing not only the reduced DFW rates for students who attend SI sessions, but she also has the mean GPA for participants versus non-participants in the same sections for every semester since Spring 2006. SI participants have consistently higher GPAs, typically by about half a letter grade. Because SI is optional, one of the challenges each semester is getting more students to take advantage of this student-success initiative. Typically, about 40% of students enrolled in the SI sections choose to attend one or more of the facilitated sessions, which are offered weekly.
|
|
Faculty/Staff publish in diverse outlets
 Stephen Braden's second co-authored textbook on public speaking will be published next month. The Speaker's Primer is a handbook geared toward a community college audience and is published by Fountainhead Press. Braden's first text met with strong reviews and has been adopted by several institutions.
Phillip Poskus, Dee Grindell and Laila Smith from the Center for Student Leadership published "Leadership programming for a forgotten population" in the Nov/Dec issue of Campus Activities Programming, a peer reviewed publication produced by the National Association of Campus Activities. They join colleague Brian LeDuc, who had a co-authored article in the same publication in October.
Meg Murray's article "Implementing a software development production environment for student use: Advantages and challenges" will be published in the December issue of the Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges.
|
|
Student Spotlight: INTS Student of the Year
 Even as the college prepares to honors its Integrative Studies graduates at next month's commencement ceremony, it is stepping back to honor the 2012 INTS Distinguished Student of the Year. Deborah Lindsay graduated in summer semester with an INTS degree that combined history and English and a perfect 4.0 GPA. A non-traditional student, Lindsay is an advisory board member for the KSU Museum of History and Holocaust Education and a Board of Trustees member for The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, La. Lindsay is currently writing a book on concentration camps.
The annual award is given to an Integrative Studies student who meets the following requirements: at least 40 semester credit hours at KSU with a GPA of 3.5 or better, achievements in the major field(s) of study beyond coursework, and notable achievements in extracurricular, civic, professional work and/or family contexts.
|
|
Pole banners on KSU Drive honor FYP
 Visitors entering and exiting campus on Kennesaw State University Drive are reminded of First-Year Programs' national recognition from U.S. News & World Report. Eight pole banners were hung on the south end of campus, heading in and out of the main entrance, Nov. 9 and will remain until March.
University Relations worked with the Dean's Office to design the pole banners lauding 10 years of national recognition. The same design is seen on the banners in the foyer areas of the University College building. Retractable banners with the same message will be placed in the Convocation Center during commencement ceremonies in December.
|
|
Drop-in sessions continue for D2L transition
ITS is offering "First Fridays" drop-in sessions Dec. 7 and Dec. 14. If you are interested in getting one-on-one assistance for the final tweaks to your spring semester courses in D2L, stop by BB 477 between 9 a.m. and noon. UC DLC Tip: Enhance your weekly announcements with Eyejot Rather than writing weekly announcements for your classes, use Eyejot to record a brief video announcement that can easily be embedded in an email or directly into D2L. To create a video announcement, you can use the free web-based version of Eyejot or you can purchase the Eyejot app for your iPad or smart phone. CETL's step-by-step guide takes you through the process of creating an Eyejot message and embedding it. |
|
Guest Lecturers bring new perspectives
 General Russel Honore returned to KSU Oct. 29 to speak to students, faculty and staff about the need for emergency preparedness. Sharing his form of leadership that gained national recognition following Hurricane Katrina, Honore's visit was particularly timely as the eastern coast was preparing for Superstorm Sandy. The Emergency Preparedness learning communities, led by Kathy Lynn in collaboration with English professor Yvonne Wichman and HPS professor Amy Howton, planned both of Gen. Honore's visits and uses his book Survival: How Being Prepared Can Keep You and Your Family Safe in the three classes.
Georgia state Rep. Alisha Morgan spoke to several KSU 1111 classes Oct. 30, explaining Georgia's voter ID law and its implications. Morgan, who represents the 39th District, is in her fifth term as a state representative. Robyn Maynard planned Rep. Morgan's visit, which was co-sponsored by KSU's NAACP chapter and the American Democracy Project.
|
|
|
|
|
|
UC Honors Oct. Shining Star
|  | |
Glenn Redd is the Technology Support Specialist for the Wellstar College of Health & Human Services, but he became an honorary member of the University College team this summer. Redd worked tirelessly with UC's TSS Sunny Pradhan through the redesign of the college's website. KSU recently honored Redd as the Shining Star for October after being nominated by the UC Dean's Office.
|
|
"What I Know for Sure" Panel Presentation
|  |
Nov. 30 -
KSU Center, Rm 400
5 - 6 p.m.
Reception following
Join the Coles College of Business and University College in a panel discussion on leadership as KSU students share the lessons they've learned from some of Georgia's most respected leaders.
Seven Leadership Studies students interviewed current and former presidents in the public and private sector to gain their insights for "What I Know for Sure: Their Stories, Our Words." The students will be presenting insights from the following leaders:
- Brigadier General Walter F. Johnson, III
- Patricia Robinson, former President of Mead School & Office Products
- William Clement, Jr., former President & CEO of Atlanta Life Financial Group
- Lisa Borders, President & CEO of The Grady Health Foundation
- Dr. T. Wayne Bloodworth, former CEO of Eagle Grooving, Inc.
- Dr. Betty Siegel, President Emeritus of KSU
The event is sponsored by the Georgia Humanities Council and is hosted by The Center for Accountable Leaders in the Coles College.
RSVP here to attend.
|
|
|
